Relief of arthritis with a soluble silicate and a soluble polyphosphate



United States Patent O RELIEF OF ARTHRITIS WITH A SOLUBLE SILI- CATE ANDA SOLUBLE POLYPHOSPHATE Clay J. Dann, Sr., Secaucus, N.J., assignor toArcom Holding Corporation, Old Tappan, N]. No Drawing. Filed Sept. 10,1968, Ser. No. 758,680 Int. Cl. A61k 27/00 US. Cl. 424-128 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a method ofrelieving arthritis, and particularly osteoarthritis by administering toa patient suffering from the same a solution of a soluble silicate,particularly sodium silicate plus a soluble polyphosphate, particularlysodium polyphosphate, which has the effect of preventing the depositionof calcium on the bone surface and eventually of removing thecalcification of the arthritis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Arthritis is a well known debilitatingcondition which mainly takes two forms, one of which is known asosteoarthritis. While the cause of osteoarthritis is not known, thecondition involves enlargement of the joint with apparent rough calciumdeposit being formed thereon. The treatments in common usage mainly relyon pain killers and on cortisone and cortisone derivatives. Attemptshave been made to decalcify the enlarged excess calcium deposit, butsuch attempts have in general met with failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a method of treatment of osteoarthritiswhich causes decalcification of the excess calcium deposited in thejoint, prevents additional calcium from depositing, and eventuallyresults in the return of the joint to normal size, smoothness andhardness.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a safe methodof relieving osteoarthritis and particularly of causing decalcificationof the calcium deposited at the joints with safety.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom a further reading of the specification and of the appended claims.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention mainlycomprises administering an effective amount of an aqueous solution of aphysiologically compatible water soluble silicate and of aphysiologically compatible water soluble polyphosphate.

While the invention is not meant to be limited to any specific theory asto how or why this composition is effective in relieving osteoarthritis,the following theory is given in the hope that it will aid in furtherresearch in this field. It is believed that the combination of thesilicate and the polyphosphate causes the calcium at the calcified areaof the osteoarthritis to become sequestered therewith so that thisdecalcified area looses some of the calcium and thereby becomes smaller.It also prevents calcium from depositing at the joint. In causingdecalcification this apparently first occurs at the ridges or roughsurfaces on the joint so that the joint not only eventually returns tonormal size but the bone surface becomes smoother and harder.

The preferred silicates are sodium or potassium silicate. Most preferredis sodium silicate because of ready availability and economy. Likewise,in the case of the polyphosphate, the preferred polyphosphates arepotassium polyphosphate and sodium polyphosphate, with sodium 3,541,208Patented Nov. 17, 1970 polyphosphate being most preferred. In the caseof treatment of patients with high blood pressure it may be advisable touse potassium silicate and potassium polyphosphate in place of thecorresponding sodium silicate and sodium polyphosphate. For purposes ofsimplicity of discussion, in the following, reference will generally behad to sodium silicate and sodium polyphosphate. It is to be understood,however, that potassium silicate and/ or potassium polyphosphate may besubstituted or used in admixture with sodium silicate and sodiumpolyphosphate.

It is preferred to prepare a concentrated solution of the sodiumsilicate and sodium polyphosphate and to use the same as the basecomposition for the treatment according to this invention. The simplestmode of administration is then to distribute a few drops of theconcentrated solution in an ingestible liquid such as water and to drinkthe liquid. Of course, it is also possible to take, for example, ateaspoon of the concentrated solution and to wash it down with a liquidsuch as water. The composition is fully effective upon oraladministration.

The amounts of the silicate and the polyphosphate in the concentratedsolution can vary within relatively wide limits. Preferably, theconcentration of sodium silicate in the solution is between about 15 and45% by weight, most preferably about 25-35% by weight. The concentrationof the sodium polyphosphate in the solution is preferably between about25% and 55% by weight; most preferably between about 35% and 45% byweight.

The dosage of the above solution, administered orally, is between about0.15 cc.1.5 cc. per day. The preferred dosage is about 0.45-0.75 cc. perday.

Thus, in dry weight the daily dosage can vary from about 2.25 mg.-67.5mg. of the silicate and about 3.75 mg.-82.5 mg. of the polyphosphate.

As indicated above, the preferred mode of administration is to takeabout 3 drops (0.15 cc.) of the concentrated solution, add the same to aglass of water and to drink the water.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following examples are given tofurther illustrate the present invention. The scope of the invention isnot, however, meant to be limited to the specific details of theexamples.

Example 1 A concentrated solution of about 28% sodium silicate and 38%sodium polyphosphate in water is prepared. This solution is administeredto a patient suffering from osteoarthritis by adding 3 drops (0.15 cc.)of the solution to a glass of water, this amount being taken by thepatient three times a day. Several weeks are required before relief ofthe osteoarthritis occurs.

Example 2 A solution is prepared of about 15% sodium silicate and about50% sodium polyphosphate. This solution is administered in the samemanner and for the same purpose as in Example 1.

Example 3 of sodium and potassium silicate and about 2555% by weight ofa physiologically compatible water soluble polyphosphate selected fromthe group consisting of sodium and potassium polyphosphate.

2. Method according to claim 1 wherein said silicate is sodium silicateand said polyphosphate is sodium polyphosphate.

3. Method according to claim 1 wherein the amount of silicateadministered is between about 2.25 mg. and 67.5 mg. per day and theamount of polyphosphate is between about 3.75 mg. and 82.5 mg. per day.

4. Method according to claim 1 wherein an aqueous Chem. Abst., 32, p.3902 (1938).

STANLEY J. FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 424184

